The building will also be re-named 'Manchester One' as Bruntwood feels it better reflects the building's M1 postcode.

The architect on the project is Bridge Architects, whilst interior fit-outs are being handled by Read Associates, and external works by Russells Construction.

The family-owned company is hoping to attract technology and media businesses to Manchester One with future benefits including a gigabit of connectivity, and access to the building's high-speed fibre capabilities.

The development works will provide a mix of office space from 800 sq ft to 18,000 sq ft, available on short and long-term agreements, along with meeting rooms for hire, serviced office space and virtual offices.

The architecture practice has moved to the 26th floor of Bruntwood's building from 83 Fountain Street, Manchester.

3D Reid is an international architecture practice responsible for the design of One Angel Square, the new headquarters of the Cooperative Group, and a new Indigo Hotel next to Victoria Station.

It has taken 1,329 sq ft on a three-year lease at a rent of £17.50/sq ft, and has offices in London, Birmingham and Glasgow as well as Manchester.

Alex Russell, associate director of CBRE, said: "We managed to assemble a CBRE team to work closely with 3D Reid in order to find office space that suited its requirements.

"Bruntwood's proactive approach enabled us to secure this at City Tower."

Mike Hitchmough, divisional director and head of offices at 3D Reid, said: "Since establishing our Manchester office in 2006, we were keen that our new offices would provide a better working environment for our staff, clients and visitors.

"City Tower provides us with excellent office facilities that will support our future growth strategy for the practice."

Egencia's new Manchester office will be home to up to 200 members of staff. Andrew Clarke, director of customer service at Egencia, said: "Three Piccadilly Place met our desire to select a highly distinctive and well-located office building for Egencia and places us in a pivotal position in one of the UK's most important office locations.

"The combination of high build standards and excellent transport links makes it the ideal location for our company."

Jonathan Baucher of Cushman & Wakefield represented Egencia. He said: "Following an extensive search, the location was a real attraction due to its proximity to their current premises and connectivity to Manchester Piccadilly Station."

He added that the deal represents one of the largest transactions in the new build market this year.

Ben Du Boulay, director of The Carlyle Group, said: "Egencia is a thriving and respected company, and great addition to the roster of tenants at Three Piccadilly Place.

"They have shown a real commitment to improving their Manchester offices and we are delighted that the high quality, centrally located space at Piccadilly Place has met their aspirations."

Chris Cheap, director of property consultants GVA, who advised The Carlyle Group, said: "Egencia is a vibrant company who really care about their staff, because of this they were not only drawn to the well specified efficient office space on offer at Piccadilly Place, but in addition the various initiatives that have been put in place by The Carlyle Group and the management team to make the scheme the best working environment within the city."

Three Piccadilly Place was developed by Argent and bought by The Carlyle Group in 2008.

The core of Manchester’s prime business district is shifting to St Peter’s Square, the city’s property professionals believe.

One recent deal is Sir Robert McAlpine taking a lease on 372 sq.metres (4,000 sq.ft.) in the newly refurbished 15 Oxford Court. Daniel Bourmad of PDA Holdings, who represented the syndicate landlord, said: “The surrounding area is improving with the re-design of St Peter’s Square, the development of 1 St Peter’s Square, where KPMG is moving, and the high speed fibre network along Oxford Road corridor together with a £30 million investment by the council."

Josh Levy of joint agent WHR believes the area “is now the principle location for occupiers, based on the variety of high quality offices, the area’s accessibility and the enhanced public space."

At the moment, proposals totalling 92,900 sq.metres (1 million sq.ft.) are in various stages of development or planning. These include Hines on the Odeon site, a developer close to going for London Scottish House and Argent’s speculative 26,012 sq.metres (280,000 sq.ft.) of space which is underway.

Mike Hawkins of WHR said: “It is the natural next step for Manchester now the Spinningfields site is all but developed.” He stressed the strengths of the area with its mature transport system and outstanding classical buildings.

These are factors in attracting an increasing number of sizeable occupiers.

The fundamentals in Manchester are favourable, as a report from DTZ indicates with the city rated as the second most under priced market in the UK across all sectors.

DTZ’s Bruce Poizer commented: “Manchester markets are particularly attractive at the moment. For example, our research indicates that the retail market is forecast to outperform all other UK centres with an average of 3.5% rental growth from 2013-17. This prediction is driven by strong economic growth in the city that has helped boost returns for the retail market to 9.2%."

Poizer further extols the strength of the industrial market and the prospects for rental growth.

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Probably the wrong thread, MEN online has something about Soapworks getting £6m to create 200k sq ft of office space on the ex Colgate site in Salford Quays.

LNGCats you lzay sod.

Added a couple of pics.

MEN.

Quote:

The developers of the mammoth Soapworks regeneration scheme in Salford were today celebrating a £6m funding boost that enables them to press ahead with the second phase of the project, which is expected to generate 1,350 jobs.

The North West Evergreen Fund, which invests in commercial property and infrastructure schemes, has provided a loan to support the second, 210,000 sq ft phase of the transformation of the former Colgate-Palmolive factory at Salford Quays.

It will comprise three new office blocks, with work due to start in early 2013 and be completed by the end of the year.

The loan is the maximum available through the Evergreen Fund, which is made up of 16 local authority partners and is backed by European and other public money. It provides loans for projects which will generate returns that can be recycled back into the fund to help support further schemes.

In October, the first stage of the Soapworks development was completed – the 20,000 sq ft Boilerhouse, which has been fully let to engineering firm Vital Services Group.

The final phase of development will add 170,000 sq ft of offices.

The Soapworks is owned by asset manager The Carlyle Group and its joint venture partners Nikal and Abstract Securities. It is one of the UK's biggest speculative developments outside London which will provide office space priced from £14 per sq ft.

Ben Du Boulay, a director at The Carlyle Group, said: "To be selected as a recipient and to be granted the maximum amount of funding from the North West Evergreen Fund is a real endorsement of the potential of the Soapworks scheme and the positive impact that the project will have on the regeneration of the Salford Quays area.

"As the recent letting of the Boilerhouse demonstrates, there is a clear demand for high-quality, good value, flexible space within Salford Quays' MediaCityUK and we are confident that the completion of the second phase of the project will add to the area's success."

Lord Peter Smith, chairman of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, said: "The Evergreen Fund is an innovative use of public funding to support private enterprise in these challenging times. We will be investing in priority schemes which will deliver real jobs and growth, as well as financial returns, unlocking opportunities and stimulating the success of the region."

Salford Mayor Ian Stewart said: "This is a welcome boost to job prospects in Salford and will further speed the regeneration of this area of the city. The project will transform an historic central site in Salford into a commercial hub, creating new job opportunities and revitalising the Exchange Quay area."

What are they doing in the way of parking, 400,000sq ft with current parking could be problematic considering they look to be building over part of the current car park with a new building and expanding the existing building into the car park.

Take the Met, not everyone bums up to their cars as if they can't survive without it.

New developments should be discouraging the use of cars to transport people there. Cars = cigarettes. Their use produces negative externalities on society. Therefore we should be making it as difficult as possible for people to drive. Less parking spaces, more tax on driving. The tax can be spent on improving public transport.

Of course, lorries and road usage which benefits the economy shouldn't be discouraged.

Yes, it is very close to two met stops but I'm sorry VDB, you're talking lefty/greeny bollix regarding cars=cigs. By making it difficult to drive you harm the economy. I couldn't do my job by public transport. Cars and private vehicles are not all bad, its idiots that drive inappropriately, solo into the city centre everyday and on the school run that are the problem, not cars themselves.

__________________Most of the stuff you see around you is the work of people no better than you or I.

Take the Met, not everyone bums up to their cars as if they can't survive without it.

New developments should be discouraging the use of cars to transport people there. Cars = cigarettes. Their use produces negative externalities on society. Therefore we should be making it as difficult as possible for people to drive. Less parking spaces, more tax on driving. The tax can be spent on improving public transport.

Of course, lorries and road usage which benefits the economy shouldn't be discouraged.

What percentage of road journeys are done for purely hedonistic reasons then??? I think you may have undermined your own argument with that final statement!

VDB what is wrong with you. On this thread and the Graphene thread youv'e posted rediculous comments - doing my nut in atm.

I think when you start to drive you will realise how reliable your own transportation will become. Going by public transport will be a thing of the past for you. Plus its actually cheaper for me to drive into work than it is to get the bus (or a weekly). And it wud be the same if I was to work at the Soapworks.

I think when you start to drive you will realise how reliable your own transportation will become. Going by public transport will be a thing of the past for you

If he’s lucky to be able to afford to drive or he might be paying off his astronomical students debts or dreaming of raising a deposit for his first cardboard home or wondering if a pension fund is worth the bother over a cyanide pill because a selfish older generation refuse to change their habits.

I think what VDB is imagining is that, whilst modern society “cannot live” without their cars at the moment, it would be remiss of developers and government not to plan for a post-personal transport future once the Chinese (currently buying 1million cars a month) have taken all the petroleum.

A continuation of post-war urban sprawl and encroachment onto greenbelt land is not a sustainable future and unnecessary when so much of our city centre land is underutilised through poor planning and acquiescence to vested interests. This in itself is not economically viable. Unfortunately, intense lobbying by the Construction Industry, Petroleum Companies and land owners for the last 40years, neutered any visions of broad community planning; the imagination of architects designing post-war housing estates and communities didn’t help either.

NB. A case in point would be Peel Holdings’ desire to build on greenbelt outside the outer ring road (Boysnope Development) when it has huge undeveloped land around the Salford Quays (and in Liverpool Docks); a development that only exacerbates car use.

As you say Andrew, until public transport offers a better, quicker, cheaper alternative to the car then people will not change their habits and that is where government should step in as it has done with smoking say with a bit of carrot and a bit of stick.

Same really. Not a bad looking building at all. Would probably make a good 3* Hotel. Great position, close to Manchester City Centre, Salford Quays, Mediacity, and Manchester United. Plenty of parking as well.

Business Desk North West.

Quote:

THE demolition of Chester House, Greater Manchester Police's former headquarters building, is due to start next month.

TheBusinessDesk understands Mansell Construction has the contract to dismantle the 12-storey building, which sits between White City Retail Park and an Audi showroom.

GMP moved to a new force headquarters building at Central Park, Newton Heath last year.

A report commissioned by the force from property consultants Grimleys concluded that the building had no commercial value, but the site did.

A Greater Manchester Police Authority document from last year stated: "The site has potential commercial value, particularly for non food retail, however current market conditions limit its marketability at present.

"In the meantime the retention of the existing buildings on the site represents a significant risk in both practical and financial terms. A project has therefore been initiated with a view to removing the redundant buildings."

As well as Chester House, the smaller Trafford House next door will also be demolished. But the operational command centre, which receives 999 calls, which sits in the shadow of Chester House, will be retained.

In the summer the police authority approved funding of £540,000 to cover the initial costs of the demolition. The authority has been replaced by the Police and Crime Commissioner. No one at the office could be reached for comment.

I think when you start to drive you will realise how reliable your own transportation will become. Going by public transport will be a thing of the past for you. Plus its actually cheaper for me to drive into work than it is to get the bus (or a weekly). And it wud be the same if I was to work at the Soapworks.

Andrew

Assuming he does start to drive.

I don't drive. And unless I move to a city without a decent public transport network, I don't see that I will.

There are huge sunk costs in car ownership (insurance, capital cost of vehicle and maintenance, taxes and duties, etc). Driving is only cheaper on the margin. And once parking costs, rising fuel prices, and the London congestion charge are accounted for, that marginal advantage diminishes.

For me, it is more expensive for me to drive than it is to use public transport - fact.

I don't doubt that Volde is coming out with some annoying stuff, but amongst his more naive and abrasive arguments, the gist of what he's getting at - that planning entities have a duty to engage with local public transport networks - is fair enough.

Same really. Not a bad looking building at all. Would probably make a good 3* Hotel. Great position, close to Manchester City Centre, Salford Quays, Mediacity, and Manchester United. Plenty of parking as well.

Business Desk North West.

I much prefer the original building which stood on this plot - the wonderfully dramatic Henshaw's Blind Asylum - which was demolished in the early 70s to make way for the Police HQ...

I don't like the sound of "non-food retail". How many DFSs can Old Trafford really support? I think there's much more potential in Old Trafford/White City than Trafford Council/developers are willing to countenance. When Metrolink is finished it will be one of the better connected areas in the city, with direct links to pretty much anywhere else on the network.

Already mentioned on he MCUK thread but thought I would give it an airing on here also...

WE'VE LANDED!

On Thursday 29th November VIPS & guests gathered on the 7th floor of The Landing to celebrate the official opening of this unique space, spanning over 7 floors and 53,500 square feet.

Joining the 120 guests and starting the proceedings were City Mayor Ian Stewart, Barbara Spicer, Chief Executive Salford City Council and Jon Corner, Chief Executive for the Landing. In his opening speech Mayor Ian Stewart was quick to share the importance of this building and its functionality within MediaCityUK ‘The Landing is at the forefront of the revolutionary spirit that Salford Council has fostered at MediaCityUK.’

This high-tech hub which is the first of its kind outside of London and the UK’s only digital workflow centre, combines state of the art facilities, studio and lab services, managed work space and social space, all allowing significant creative interaction. Barbara Spicer reminded guests that the Concept of the Landing was always integral to the vision of MediaCityUK

After a few words from the three key speakers, Jon Corner continued by hosting a full walk round of the facility starting from the stunning Media Lounge & Members bar ‘On the 7th’. Jon was thrilled with the evening and the reception The Landing received from all guests and VIPS, Jon added ‘since the fantastic opening night, enquiries to take space and to work within The Landing have gone through the roof. We’re only at the start of the journey but already we’re seeing here the type of interaction and collaboration that the space was designed for.’

Developed by Salford City Council with funding from the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development fund, The Landing is set to play a key role not only within the existing MediaCityUK community it will be integral part of the growth and future vision of MediaCityUK and the region.

Fabrica, New Islington
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A lack of choice is forcing big business to turn its back on Manchester city centre when choosing new offices, surveyors warned in a report today.

Firms with large office requirements are turning to Salford Quays, south Manchester and Old Trafford instead, according to a report by Lambert Smith Hampton.

The claims come as building works are completed at Royal London Asset Management’s Fabrica, in New Islington, which is the city's first speculative office development for three years.*

Fabrica will add 21,000 sq ft of new office space in and around Manchester city centre which, at around 600,000 sq ft, is now at its lowest point since 2006.

A second building - the 220,000 sq ft scheme at One St Peter’s Square developed by Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund and London-based Argent - is due for completion in 2014. Part of the block has already been let to accountants KPMG.

LSH's Manchester Office Report 2012 said total city centre take-up for the year is expected to reach approximately 650,000 sq ft – about one-third less than the five-year average, and eight per cent lower than in 2011.

David Thwaites, an associate director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said the findings reveal a* threat to the city’s status as Britain’s second business city. He blamed a low supply of new office space and a lack of big deals.

He said: “In the absence of any stand-out large transactions, total take-up of office space unlikely to exceed last year’s figure of 700,000 sq ft. The city centre has thus far missed out on the large corporate activity which has enabled other north west markets, most notably south Manchester and Old Trafford, to enjoy strong years.

“With grade A city centre transactions totalling only 30,361 sq ft in the year to the end of September, it is clear that the shortage of available grade A accommodation, coupled with continued uncertainty within the economy, is still deterring larger occupiers from relocating and, as a consequence, making the city’s status vulnerable.

“The big occupiers are sitting on their hands. We started the year hoping for deals from Jacobs Engineering and Pannone, among others, and we are still hoping as the year ends.

“The biggest deal in the city centre was a letting of 24,000 sq ft to Futureworks - normally we would have expected five or six deals of that size, or bigger.

Yet, at the same time, the out-of-town office markets - south Manchester, Old Trafford and Salford Quays - have had a strong year. That’s because they can offer occupiers a choice of good buildings. If you are looking in the city centre, you have very limited choice of floorspace, and if you don’t want to go to Piccadilly the options are limited.

“2012 has been frustrating and 2013 could be the same. We may see a couple of big deals in the city centre next year, but probably not the four or five people hope for. On the positive side, we are seeing a lot of smaller deals - that sector of the market is busier than ever.”

LSH said that, combining the city’s main property markets (Manchester city centre, south Manchester and Salford Quays) office deals in 2012 are likely to total 1.3m sq ft.* This still sits comfortably ahead of its closest rivals Edinburgh and Birmingham with projected take-up of 950,000 sq ft and 750,000 sq ft respectively.

However, the firm said Manchester position could be under threat due to a lack of choice of buildings that can deliver sizeable grade A accommodation. This offers competitor cities, such as Leeds and Birmingham, the opportunity to steal a march.

Fabrica, which was designed by 5Plus Architects, was built by Galliford Try. Cre8 was the project manager.

Tony Howcroft, of Fabrica letting agents WHR Property Consultants, said: “This landmark scheme demonstrates RLAM's confidence in the robust Manchester office market, the timing of completion ensures that this development is perfectly-positioned to take advantage of the currently depleting stock levels of new build grade A office accommodation.*

“The building has already generated a lot of occupational interest owing to its eye-catching appearance and proximity to the soon-to-be-opened Metrolink stop.”

Fabrica includes a 150-bed budget hotel, which is due to open next week, and a Costa Coffee outlet which is due to start trading in December.